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I have no idea what you’re feeling, because .. well .. YOU’RE FEELING IT .. but it does sound like you may be a little overfilled. With THAT SAID, it could also be that your stomach is “inflamed", and hasn’t had time to “settle".
Each time your band is tighten, this causes the stomach to be a little irritated. If the band isn’t too tight, the irritation (swelling) isn't that noticeable because foods can pass through easily. However when you get closer and closer to the “optimum" tightness, the irritation can cause more discomfort because food has a narrower passage to go through.
You also mentioned a case of PB (Productive Burp – aka SLIMING). That may have also contributed (re-aggravated) the tenderness of the band, hence why you’re still feeling it now.
I would give it another day or so. Eat slowly. CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW- CHEW-CHEW-CHEW (over 30 times) your food before swallowing; make sure portions are no bigger than you would feed a baby, and (if you can) do liquids only for a few days – then see what happens.
If it still occurs after a few days, then contact your Doctor ASAP and have them see you. You know my philosophy by now, but in case you don’t – it’s best to hear “it’s all normal" then to hear “why didn’t you contact us when this first occurred".
Good luck… Anyone else have any comments?
Tom
“Nothing I will ever eat will give me the feeling I get as when I lose weight” The views expressed are based on my own experiences - and should NOT BE FOLLOWED IN LIEU OF DOCTOR’S ADVICE/INSTRUCTIONS. Only your Doctor knows your condition, and make sure you talk to them before making any changes to your diet
Tom as always has great advice. He mentioned exercise and I want to emphasize how important this aspect has been in my weight loss journey...without it I wouldn't have been successful. My first year I lost maybe 45-50 lbs...I am now at 140 lbs lost!!! You can always turn your bad situation around...I did.
I started my workouts I started out small and added a little more each week. Now I workout 6 days a week, 90 minutes a day. My workout includes cardio, weight lifting and stretching. I have now progressed enough that I am now starting to train for my first 5K. I have only been exercising for 8 months and when I started I barely was able to walk 20 minutes without sweating profusely. Now I am running!!! I'm still sweating though!!! Most importantly I have dropped weight like crazy. The first month I dropped 16 lbs!!! When you start losing weight like that it is so easy to be motivated. Motivated to follow the band rules, motivated to workout, motivated to incorporate other healthy habits in your life...like I make all my meals now. No more process frozen, prepackage canned stuff. Only organic fresh foods made in my kitchen. I can control the salt and fat content.
Here is an article I have showing to people. It's about the importance of weightlifting and how it will help you lose lots of weight.
http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/WH/lose-your-fear-of-lifting
Of course know that we are all here for you and we are all fighting the same fight.
Since you’re not banded yet, and have a little time to go – instead of having no caffeine right off the bat, try to “wean" yourself off. Have 3/4 caffeine to 1/4 decafe for 2 days; then 1/2 caffeine to 1/2 decafe for 2 days, the 1/4 caffeine to 3/4 decafe for 2 days; then all decafe.
As for BAND horrors – in all honesty, there are BAND horrors. There are also BYPASS horrors; and SLEEVE horrors; and DS horrors, and .. well you get the idea. No matter which operation you chose, you’ll hear success and/or horror stories. It’s all individualized. Some will claim, one operation is better than the other. IMHO that’s hog-wash, because if THAT WAS true, then Doctors – heck the medical community – would say “Operation A is the best. All the others aren’t – so let’s stick with Operation A".
Know I (and all of us) are here if you need.
Tom
“Nothing I will ever eat will give me the feeling I get as when I lose weight” The views expressed are based on my own experiences - and should NOT BE FOLLOWED IN LIEU OF DOCTOR’S ADVICE/INSTRUCTIONS. Only your Doctor knows your condition, and make sure you talk to them before making any changes to your diet
Over on the lapband board, somebody posted the following link -- "Long-timers-big-losers-at-restriction-question":
I thought it was well worth reading, and I realize I had a different understanding of "restriction" from this article. But it does leave me confused.
I have not felt what I thought I would feel as restriction until this last week. (My surgery was in late October and I have had fills every month since.) I got a fill a couple of weeks ago and was feeling nothing until last week when I had what I guess was a PB -- not vomiting, but just a little came up. For those few minutes before it came up, I could barely talk and was feeling a SEVERE acid-reflux kind of feeling in my chest. Since then for several days I felt OK but occasionally was experiencing a SLIGHT acid-reflex feeling. Then, about two days ago, I began feeling like what I thought "restriction" should feel like. That is, I could eat a bit, but it didn't take very much to start feeling uncomfortable. No where near what I was feeling when I had the PB.
So if I'm reading the article right, that "feeling" is not restriction. But if it's not, what is it? Am I too tight? Do I need to get an unfill?
Tom, I'm especially counting on you -- but anyone else who has an answer -- to ease my confusion, not to mention my almost always uncomfortableness.
Know I am here to help in any way I can. Now a little tough love – are you following ALL THE RULES? Not some of the time, but MOST of the time (I know honestly it can’t be ALL of the time?) If you’re not, that could be the issue .. with that said ..
Over the years I have collected some common “rules" one should follow in order to be successful. So far I am up to 25+ “universal set of laws" one should heed during their journey.
I would love to see this list grow, so please feel free to add to it. Maybe one day this will be adopted as the Constitution of Gastric Success!! :D
(1) Get your daily Protein requirements in (60 – 80 grams – your Doctor/Nutritionist may have different target amount – so follow their recommendation). Protein requirements change over time (depending upon weight loss stage, amount of exercise, hospitalization, etc). Check with your Doctor/Nutritionist concerning your protein needs.
(2) Protein drinks should be: between 20 and 30 grams of protein per serving (25 is recommended), contain less than 150 calories (110 recommended) contain less than 10 grams of carbohydrates (5 is recommended) (your Doctor/Nutritionist may have different rules – so follow their recommendation).
(3) Remember eat: Protein first, then fiber (ex veggies/fruits) then (if there is room) good (NON-starchy) carbohydrates.
(4) Drink at least 64 ounces of non-carbonated/non-caffeinated liquid.
(5) No drinking while eating and/or 30 minutes before and/or after meals (your Doctor/Nutritionist may have different rules – so follow their recommendation)
(6) You must east to lose weight!! Yes I know this a strange concept but if you don’t, your body will go into “starvation mode" and “store all it can".
(7) Each meal should take at least 25 to 30 minutes to complete. Studies show it takes this long for your stomach to tell your brain it’s full – no matter how much food is in it.
(8) Eat at the same time everyday
(9) Eat until you are full, not stuffed
(10) Wait 30 to 60 seconds between putting another piece food in your mouth
(11) Make sure foods (especially meats) are moist
(12) Before you put that piece in your mouth, ask yourself “Would I give this size to a baby?"
(13) Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew- Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew- Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew- Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew- Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew- Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew-Chew (at least 30 times, or until it feels like baby food consistency)
(14) Take your vitamins !!
(15) Remember, during the operation they put the tool around your stomach, and not your brain. So, you will need to do some self control.
(16) Exercise – begin slow (example walk; climbing a flight of stairs; park in the furthest spot in the lot) and then gradually increase. My suggestion do two days; rest a day; do two days; rest a day; do two days
(17) If you feel like “snacking" do something else (ex. Go outside; call a (WLS) friend; come to the board and post, etc)
(18) Participate in a support group!!! It is a fact that those who attend supports groups have increased weight loss long term!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(19) ok .. a little gross and try to figure out what I am saying .. What you think may be a “GAS" may come out as a “Liquid" or “Solid" .. so BE CAREFUL and BE PREPARED !!
(20) Remember to speak to your Doctor/Nutritionist regularly.
(21) Speak to your Psychiatrist/Psychologist at least twice a year, especially when the “honeymoon" stage is over.
(22) Keep your surgeon appointments.
(23) At specified intervals, get your blood-work done. Check with your Doctor.
(24) Shop the perimeter of the supermarkets.
(25) If you can’t pronounce the ingredients – don’t buy it!!
How many did you answer yes to (ok, you don’t really need to tell me).
Now this is out of the way, feel free to come back and ask more questions. As I said, I am here to help. If you want, send me a personal message and I will give you my contact information.
Tom
“Nothing I will ever eat will give me the feeling I get as when I lose weight” The views expressed are based on my own experiences - and should NOT BE FOLLOWED IN LIEU OF DOCTOR’S ADVICE/INSTRUCTIONS. Only your Doctor knows your condition, and make sure you talk to them before making any changes to your diet
Can't believe that Easter is this sunday. That will be a very busy day for my family. Can't believe that before we know it the year will be half over. We ALL have so very much to be grateful for in our lives....no matter how large or how small. We should all be grateful that we have computers, this website and not living on the streets and homeless. PLEASE feel free if you wish to share with us what you are grateful for. Here are a few of the things that I am grateful for today in my life.........
For waking up this AM....alive and still kicking,
For my Family and friends who are so very important to me,
For my Faith and answered prayers,
For the Easter story and true meaning of Easter,
For my WLS and all the different choices of WLS,
For my furbabies who love me unconditionally,
For my life and health,
For Obesity Help, all the information on here and all the wonderful people on the message boards,
For the upcoming OH Conference in New Orleans. La Sept. 9-10 It should be a awesome one.
Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN NOT CHANGE; COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS THAT I CAN; AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE !!!! THIS IS MY DAILY PRAYER.
Vivian Prouty Obesity Help Support Group Coach "LOSE IT 4 LIFE"
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Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power. |
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN NOT CHANGE; COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS THAT I CAN; AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE !!!! THIS IS MY DAILY PRAYER.
Vivian Prouty Obesity Help Support Group Coach "LOSE IT 4 LIFE"
